Patient Care Technician, Nursing Student - T12 Cardiology

Are you a registered nursing student interested in gaining clinical experience to complement your education? If you're passionate about patient care and looking for an opportunity to be further immersed in the hospital which offers plenty of room for growth, we invite you to explore this opportunity today! UPMC Altoona is looking for a casual Patient Care Technician to support T12 Cardiology! Hours requirements for this casual role are 12 hours within every 6-week scheduling period when school is in session and 36 hours every 6-week scheduling period when school is not in session. Year-round availability is preferred (up until graduation from nursing school). The Patient Care Technician provides routine patient care and supports department services per established policies and procedures, under the direction of nurses or physicians, ensuring high-quality care. _Note: Candidate will be placed into the appropriate job title (Nursing Assistant, Nursing Student or Patient Care Technician, Nursing Student) & salary based on experience. One year of healthcare experience or completion of a clinical rotation is preferred._ Core Responsibilities: + Perform essential nursing assistant tasks, including ADLs (bathing, feeding, transporting, toileting, ambulating, repositioning), point-of-care testing (blood glucose), weights, vital signs, intake & output, and telemetry monitor application/reapplication. + Assist with simple dressings, placement/removal of restraints, bladder scans, specimen collection, and patient transportation ("Ticket to Ride"). + Maintain competency in department-required advanced skills, including phlebotomy/venipuncture, peripheral IV and Foley catheter removal, basic arrhythmia recognition, 12-lead EKG, and NG tube clamping/removal. Additional Responsibilities: + Suggest and support departmental improvements while maintaining professional relationships and effective communication. + Ensure proper equipment function and report malfunctions. + Respond to call lights and telephones, pass meal trays, and assist in transporting patients. + Receive and act on constructive feedback, identify learning needs, and participate in self-review. + Support safety protocols, comply with hospital policies, and document patient interactions accurately. + Assist patients with procedures and therapies, provide instructions under RN direction, and monitor restraints per protocol. + Perform clerical tasks and contribute to department projects and quality initiatives. Nursing Assistant Requirements: + High school diploma or GED. + Successful completion of UPMC nursing assistant training program + Knowledge of body mechanics and transfer techniques. + Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) preferred. Patient Care Technician Requirements (preferred): + High School Diploma or Equivalent + Enrollment in a Nursing Program (RN program preferred) with: + 1 year of general healthcare experience or + 6 months experience as UPMC Nursing Assistant/CNA with PCT competency achieved within 120 days of hire/transfer/promotion or + Completion of at least 1 nursing program clinical rotation required + Successful completion of UPMC Patient Care Technician class upon hire + Successful completion of basic information system training + Microcomputer experience preferred + Ability to effectively communicate both orally and in writing + Access to medications is limited to the distribution of the medical to the nurse. Licensure, Certifications, and Clearances: + CPR required based on AHA standards that include both a didactic and skills demonstration component within 30 days of hire + ACLS preferred + Basic Life Support (BLS) OR Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) + Act 34 UPMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran